The blog will pick a word of the week, to share & explore the selected word. Here’s an expression for the word – ichi-go ichi-e 一期一会.
Each moment in our life happens only once. Ichigo ichie is often spoken in Japan when greeting someone to convey that the encounter is precious & special. It is a tenet of Zen Buddhism, attributed to a 16th century master of the Japanese tea ceremony, whose intricate tea rituals inspired us to focus on the present moment with hope & healing. From this age-old concept comes a new kind of mindfulness & peace.
In The Book Of Ichigo Ichie, we lovingly learn to appreciate the beauty of the fleeting, the way the Japanese celebrate the cherry blossoms each year, knowing they’ll have to wait a whole year to see them again. We understand how to use all five senses to anchor ourself in the present. We also relish the magic of unique events or coincidences to find meaning in our lives.
Ichi-go ichie-e inspires us to discover our ikigai or life’s purpose, because it’s only by learning to be present in the moment that we can identify what motivates us or brings us true joy. Each one of us possesses the key that can open the door to intention, passion, compassion, fulfilment & love of life. And, that key is ichi-go ichie-e. Time is treasure.
